JOIN USCelebration of Prosenjit Chatterjee's excellence
Ratnottama Sengupta curates ‘Prosenjit Chatterjee: A Retrospective’ – from September 9 to September 27, at the India Habitat Centre. Acclaimed for his Bollywood outings like Shanghai, Chatterjee is now co-producing the Indo-Bangla co-production Shankhochil (The Kite), directed by Goutam Ghose.
Born to yesteryear’s Bollywood actor Biswajit (who cast Prosenjit at the age of four in Chhotto Jigyasa), Chatterjee’s journey to superstardom has not been one single leap. He has worked to gain every inch he claims in popular imagination. Beginning with formulaic roles at a time when actors like Tapas Paul were major draws at the box office, he worked on building a body, learning to dance and drive, studied the dynamics of Uttam Kumar, (his all-time guru whose childhood he played in the 1970s film, Dui Prithibi (Two Worlds).
The retrospective will begin with the screening of Rituparno Ghosh directed Dosar (The Companion) (2008) on September 7. Casting Konkona Sen Sharma and Chatterjee, the film is about a critically injured man who tries to make amends to his wife after having an extra-marital affair. The film has won many awards including the National Film Award - Special Jury Award.
On September 10, Chatterjee directed Purushottam (1992) will be screened. Casting Kali Bannerjee, Abhishek Chatterjee and Pallavi Chatterjee, the film depicts how violence in campus elections ends up ruining young lives and budding careers.
Srijit Mukherji directed Autograph (2010) will be screened on September 17. The film is also a humble tribute to Satyajit Ray’s Nayak (1966). The plot revolves around three lives – a superstar, a young director and a theatre actress – and how their coming together during the process of making a film, changes them forever.
Dibakar Banerjee directed Shanghai (2012) will be screened on September 19. Casting Abhay Deol, Emraan Hashmi, Kalki Koechlin and Prosenjit Chatterjee, thefilm is about the prime leader – of a campaign against a big government project – who is killed in what appears to be a road accident. An IAS officer is ordered to probe the incident and the veils of falsehood begin to drop.
Apon Amaar Apon (Dearest One), to be screened on September 22, is directed by Tarun Majumdar. The story revolves around Ashim, the scion of a rich family, who falls for Phool Chowdhury, a well-groomed singer who happens to be his tenant. He extends to her and her family every facility and privilege, whether desired or not. Towards this end he employs Bhootnath, a reticent youth, raised in an orphanage. However, when Bhootnath’s humility and simple behaviour wins everyone’s heart, it makes Ashim very jealous. He tries to destroy Bhootnath’s every means of happiness. But on the path of destruction, Ashim learns that Bhootnath is his long-lost brother.
The retrospective will continue with Jaatishwar (Reborn), Ami, Yasin Aar Amar Madhubala (The Voyeurs) and Moner Manush (The Quest), to be screened on September 23, 28 and 29 respectively.
Prosenjit Chatterjee: A Retrospective will be held at the Stein Auditorium, India
Habitat Centre. Time: 7 pm.